Question By: Offering freedom within limits provides a comfortable balance between an overly structured environment and a chaotic one. Often in Montessori, we hear the phrase "follow the child”. This means we follow each child's development, interests, needs, and abilities. Though we follow the child in many regards, we are ultimately their guide and not the other way around. Rather than give young children free rein, we give them freedom within limits.
Limits of Montessori Classroom
There are three ground rules of the Montessori classroom. All other ground rules stem from these three.
- Respect for oneself
- Respect for others; and
- Respect for the environment.
Types of freedom in the Montessori environment
- Freedom to move
- Freedom of choice
- Freedom of time
- Freedom to repeat
- Freedom to communicate
- Freedom to make mistakes
The Montessori Method – Fostering Independence
One of the key goals of a Montessori education is to teach children to be able to do things for themselves, and provide many engaging opportunities for them to do so.
- Develop a confidence they will carry all their lives.
- Achieve his or her individual learning potential.
- Build self-sufficiency and independence.
- Develop a sense of purpose and self-motivation.
The benefits of the Montessori approach are enormous – that is, you unlock limitless opportunities for learning and instruction once you accept the fact children cannot control their emotions unless they are allowed to understand them. Since children are not forced to learn skills and subjects they are not ready for, they readily embrace the learning experience. It goes far beyond what we might think of as learning at one's own pace to recognize the individual capability and development of each student.
This is what Council Oak Montessori is all about. At Council Oak Montessori, teachers have a defined curriculum each child is expected to master. However, it is spread over three (3) years rather than a single year and children can learn at their own pace.
Visit https://counciloakmontessori.org/beverly-montessori-school/ for more information.
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